12th February 2002

PRESS RELEASE

GREEN PARTY CONCERNED OVER FUNDING DELAY FOR SHANKILL SCHOOL

The Green Party has called for the speeding up of funding to extend St. Anne’s School in Shankill, Co. Dublin.

Plans for the extension have been with the Department of Education and Science since last June. The proposals include two new classrooms, a library, computer room, multipurpose room and new staff room.

Approval by the Department is required before the scheme can proceed to planning application and tender stage.

“These delays are inexplicable,” stated Ciarán Cuffe of the Green Party, “they are causing hardship for students and teachers. It is unacceptable that a secondary school does not have a dedicated computer room in the twenty-first century.”

“There are appear to be major delays in upgrading school buildings in the entire Dublin area” said Cuffe, “From the inner city to the outer suburbs there are students attempting to work in overcrowded and under-resourced buildings.”

The Green Party has written to the Minister for Education and Science, Dr. Michael Woods, TD, urging him to give the required sanction to allow the project to proceed, and are awaiting a response.

ENDS

For further information contact:

Ciarán Cuffe          087 265 2075 or 618 3082